The Athletics have secured a one-year contract worth $10 million with José Leclerc, a right-handed pitcher formerly of the Texas Rangers.

Leclerc, who is 31 years old, delivered a solid performance last season, recording a 6-5 win-loss record accompanied by a 4.32 earned run average (ERA) in 64 appearances as a reliever. He notably struck out an impressive 89 batters over 66 and two-thirds innings of work and kept opposing right-handed hitters to a low .193 batting average.

Spending his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Rangers since his debut in 2016, Leclerc’s overall stats include a 12-20 record with a commendable 3.27 ERA and 41 saves across 350 career outings. Throughout his time in the league, he has averaged 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

Leclerc’s journey has not been without challenges; he saw limited action in the 2020 season, participating in only two games due to a torn right teres major muscle, with his last appearance on July 26 of that year. Following Tommy John surgery on March 30, 2021, he was sidelined for the entire following season but made his return to the big leagues on June 18, 2022.

In a move to accommodate Leclerc on the 40-man roster, the Athletics designated right-hander Will Klein for assignment.